Wrecking tool



April 29, 1924.-

J. E. HOFFMAN WRECKING TOOL Original Filed Feb. 28

Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

PA'l E-v UNITED STATES JOHN nnorriunn, or cesrnn, wxoiirrnc.

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Application filed February 28, 1922, Serial No. 5405025. Renewed'September 20, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Casper, in the county of Natrona and State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Wrecking Tool; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the, same. 7 V

In taking down scaffolds and dismounting wooden structures unnecessary loss results in the breaking, cracking and splitting of timber. This is due chiefly to the centering of the force exerted upon a small area.

The present invention provides a tool embodying a lever, an anchoring element for the lever pivoted thereto, and a shoe for receiving and distributing the thrust of the lever whereby the timber is separated without appreciable injury thereto and the work greatly facilitated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool of the character specified illustrative of the invention, showing the same applied, the outer end of the lever being broken away,

Figure 2 is a side view thereof partly in section, and

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the anchoring element.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The tool comprises a lever 1 having a cam 2 at one end. A curved slot 3 is formed in the cam 2 and receives a pin 4 which connects a shoe 5 to the cam. Ears 6 formed with the shoe 5 embrace the cam 2 and receive the ends of the pin 4. The shoe 5 preferably consists of an elongated plate.

The cam 2 preferably forms a part of the leverl. 4 i

An anchoring element 8 has pivotal connection with the lever l and is attached to the forward end of the cam as indicated at 9. The part 8 consists of a short bar or plate having ears 10 projecting laterally therefrom to receive the pivot 9. The element 8 acts in opposition to the shoe 5 and is adapted to engage one of the timbers, as 11', while the shoe 5 engages the other timber 1201" part to be separated. The timber engaging faces of the parts 8 and 10 are roughened to prevent slipping when the tool is in operation. The pivot connection 9 is preferably at theforward end of the cam'2 and may be of any nature so long as'it serves to pivotally connect the element 8 with the cam. The parts of the tool may be of any substantial construction and may be cast, forged or provided in any convenient way.

A contractile helical spring 13 connects the anchoring element 8 and shoe 5 and properly positions such parts when initially applied to the structure to be dismounted. An end portion of the anchoring element 8 is adapted to engage a stud 11, upright or like substantial part of the structure to be dismantled, whereas the shoe 5 engages the board 12, plank or like relatively thin timber which usually breaks, cracks, or splinters when applying a wrecking bar or like tool in the separation thereof from. an upright, stud or like part. The tool admits of the work being performed in a rapid and effective manner without injury to the timber separated to such an extent as to preclude its use in future operations without necessitating replacement as is the case when the timber is cracked. broken or otherwise rendered unfit for further effective service.

A fiat spring 14 is attached at one end to the anchoring element and its opposite end portion engages the earn 2 adjacent the pivot 9. The spring 14 coacts with the spring 13 to hold the parts in normal position whereby to facilitate placing the tool in position preliminary to operating the same in the separation of the timbers. For convenience the spring 14: is located between the ears 10 and is protected in a measure thereby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is;

1. A tool of the character specified, comprising a lever, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever and a shoe having a loose sliding connection with the lever to prevent displacement.

2. A tool of the character specified, comprising a lever provided at one end with a cam, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever and a shoe having a projecting part loosely engaging the cam portion of the lever, by a sliding connection whereby to prevent displacement of the parts.

3. A tool of the character specified, comprising a lever having a cam at one end in which is formed a curved slot, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever and a shoe provided with a projecting part loosely engaging the slot of the cam to retain the part against displacement.

4. A tool of the character specified, comprising a lever, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever, a shoe, and a contractile helical spring forming connecting means between the anchoring element and shoe.

5. A tool of the character specified, comengaging the cam and a contractile helical spring connecting the anchoring element with the shoe. v

6. A tool of the character specified, comprising a lever having a can] at one end, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever, and a spring connection between the cam and anchoring element.

7 A tool of the character specified, comprising a lever having a cam at one end, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever, and a flat spring carried by the anchoring element and exerting a pressure on the said cam.

8. A tool of the character specified, co1nprising a lever having a cam at one end, an anchoring element having pivotal connection with the lever, and comprising spaced ears between which the said cam is received, and a flat spring between the ears and exerting a pressure on the cam and attached to the anchoring element.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

' MARGARET MCALEER,

LYLE E; JAY. 

